'Iranians planned to assassinate Israeli ambassador'
As Danny Ayalon seeks African nations' support for Iran stance, Kenya’s intelligence services reveal they prevented plan to assassinate Israel’s Ambassador in Kenya
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Thursday praised the Kenyan goverment for its efforts to stop Iranian terror threats against Israeli and Jewish targets. .
Ayalon who is currently visiting Kenya as part of a round of visits in three African countries – Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya, praised the local authorities after they arrested the two Iranians in June when the suspects led Kenyan security forces to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of RDX, a powerful explosive, in the coastal city of Mombasa where several hotels are owned by Israelis.
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It has now been revealed that the targets included Israel's Ambassador to Kenya, Gil Haskel.
One official said the Iranians are members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, an elite and secretive unit.
During Ayalon's visit, all three countries expressed concern regarding Iran’s attempts to increase its terror activity in Africa.
Ayalon is also using the visits to conduct a diplomatic battle against Iran, and is trying to convince the African leaders not to take part in the conference of Non Aligned Nations at the end of the month in Teheran.
Avi Granot, deputy director of the African section in the Foreign Ministry, said that the Israeli request to send a delegation of lower ranking representatives was being mulled.
A week before Ayalon arrived in Africa Iranian Vice President Hamid Bakai visited the continent for a round of visits and handed each leader a personal invitation to the conference.
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